Creel structure for circular knitting machines

ABSTRACT

A circular knitting machine having an improved creel with the various thread receiving and dispensing elements arranged to minimize detrimental lint and fly accumulation. The creel includes a plurality of brackets adapted to support supply cones of yarn at an angle to the vertical and at a position laterally outwardly of the main knitting area of the machine.

United States Patent Woodford [54] CREEL STRUCTURE FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES [72] Inventor: Terrence R. Woodford, Aiken, S.C.

[73] Assignee: Institute of Textile Technology, Charlottesville, Va.

[22] Filed: July 29,1969

[21] Appl.No.: 845,713

[52] 0.8. CI ..66/132 R, 66/125 R, 66/163, 66/168 [51] Int. Cl. ..D04b 15/40, D04b 15/48, D041) 35/14 [58] Field of Search ..66/125,125 A, 132, 132 T, 66/163, 168; 242/130, 131

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,461,691 8/1969 Ballard 66/163 X 3,523,433 8/1970 Hatay ......66/132 3,589,146 6/1971 Schmidt 66/125 R 186,045 1/1877 Rice ..242/131 768,279 8/1904 Hirner ...66/125 X 2,179,015 11/1939 Lawson ..242/130 2,571,523 10/1951 Bennett ..66/125 X [4 1 July 25, 1972 FORElGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,045,587 12/1958 Germany ..66/l32 R 1,273,557 9/1961 1,450,037 7/1966 756,115 8/1956 118,940 11/1958 42,309 l/l908 Switzerland ..242/1 31 Primary Examiner-Robert R. Mackey Attorney-Pennie, Edmonds, Morton, Taylor and Adams [5 7] ABSTRACT A circular knitting machine having an improved creel with the various thread receiving and dispensing elements arranged to minimize detrimental lint and fly accumulation. The creel includes a plurality of brackets adapted to support supply cones of yarn at an angle to the vertical and at a position laterally outwardly of the main knitting area of the machine.

9 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,713

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. 1

INVENTOR TERRENCE R. WOODFORD Mm, gnu/4..

ATT'ORNEYS Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,713

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR TERRENCE R. WOODFORD TORNEYS Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,713

5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR TERRENCE R. WOODFORD ATTORNEYS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A serious problem is knitting mills, especially those using carded cotton yarns, is the build up of loose fibers, seed and leaf particles, and other foreign material on the knitting machinery during normal operation. A sufficient accumulation of lint and trash particles on the knitting machine interferes with the passage of yarns through the control mechanisms of the machine such as stop motion devices, eyelets, or carriers, and restricts the movements of needles, sinkers, and other vital parts of the machine, thus causing a malfunction of the machine or yarn breakage. When waxed yarns are used, the condition may be aggravated because machine heat at certain parts of the machine tends to melt the parrafin flakes that fall from the yarn onto the machine, forming a tacky surface for the lint.

Most conventional revolving cylinder circular knitting machines use air hoses to remove lint and fly accumulated from critical areas of the machinery, which often merely move the lint from one place to another. Lint depositions, therefore, are still not generally recognized as being satisfactorily controllable during the knitting of spun yarns.

In recent years many attempts have been made to control or disperse the lint generated in circular knitting machines. Suitable devices have been constructed to run either intermittently while the machine is stopped or continuously while the machine is running. The most common technique used to achieve this objective is to provide the circular knitting machine with some type of pneumatic device which distributes high pressure air to selected portions of the knitting machine thereby blowing any lint accumulations away from the critical operating elements contained therein. Such devices while generally successful in keeping a particular area generally free of lint nevertheless cause the accumulated lint to be blown into other areas of the machine and therefore produce a mere redistribution of the lint rather than its elimination.

Another known method for removing detrimental lint and fly accumulation consists in enclosing the critical area of the knitting machine in an air tight structure and subjecting the enclosed area to a vacuum which draws the loose particles of lint into an area where they can be disposed of. These vacuum devices are complex and expensive and require constant maintenance. In addition, the enclosure of the various critical areas of the machine complicates the normal maintenance of these areas.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a revolving cylinder circular knitting machine of conventional construction is provided with an improved creel for mounting and directing the lengths of yarn to the knitting needles of the machine. In this improved creel, the supply cones of yarn are mounted laterally outwardly of the centrally disposed knitting machine in a manner to prevent the accumulation of lint and fly and to prevent it from falling onto the critical operating parts of the creel and knitting machine. In addition, the creel is provided with a single stop motion device for each length of yarn for detecting excessive tension in that length of yarn as it is fed to the knitting machine and for also detecting broken yarn. This single stop motion device replaces the conventional upper and lower stop motion devices used in presently available machines. Further, the improved creel includes a circular shield member which provides a barrier between the centrally disposed knitting machine and the various operating mechanisms used in the creel for directing the yarn lengths to the knitting machine. This shield member not only prevents lint and fly from being directed into the working parts of the knitting machine but also acts to collect loose lint and fly which may be generated as the yarn passes through the creel structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a circular knitting machine embodying the improved creel of the present invention with certain parts omitted for clarity;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the structure shown in FIG. 1 showing the path followed by a length of yarn as it is fed through the creel structure of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial plan view of a cincular knitting machine showing modification of the improved creel of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an elevation view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an elevation view taken along lines 5-5 of FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION As shown in the drawings, the improved creel of the present invention, designated at 1, is mounted on a multiple-feed circular knitting machine 2. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the knitting machine is a 26-inch diameter, 36 feed. 18- 1% cut, I500 needle, Singer-Supreme R.O.F./N Circular Jersey Machine. Fabric is typically knitted on this machine at a machine speed of 22 revolutions per minute, having 36 stitches per inch and an average course length of 576 centimeters per feed per revolution. A conventional needle cylinder 3 forms part of the knitting machine and includes a plurality of yarn guides and knitting needles spaced evenly about the periphery of the cylinder. FIG. 2 shows two of these guides and associated needle at 4 and 5, respectively.

Three support rods, two of which are shown at 6 in FIG. 2, provide the main support for the improved creel structure of the present invention. The creel structure includes a plurality of radially extending bracket arms 7 connected to the support rods 6 via the circular support member 7. Centrally disposed support rod 6' is attached and suspended from the support member 7' for supporting and aligning the shield structure of the apparatus as more fully described below.

For a 36 feed knitting machine, the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes 18 equally spaced bracket arms 7. Each arm extends laterally outwardly of the knitting machine and at its end supports a pair of vertical brackets 8, one of which extends above the arm 7 and one below. On each vertical bracket, a pair of supports 9 are provided for mounting a pair of supply cones of yarn.

The supply cones are provided in pairs so that the knitting machine may be continuously fed with yarn without stopping the knitting machine. One cone of each pair has its trailing end tied to the leading end of the other cone. Accordingly, when the first cone becomes depleted, the yarn will start feeding from the second cone. As the second cone is being used, the operator may remove the empty spindle on which the first supply cone was held and replace it with a new cone.

On each bracket 8 of the creel, the upper support 9 extends generally horizontally while the lower support extends at an angle to the vertical. As shown in FIG. 2, the supply cones of yarn are mounted on these supports with the pairs of cones of each bracket having their longitudinal axes directed generally to a common point of intersection. In removing the yarn from the cones, it is pulled off the top of the cone in a direction along its longitudinal axis; and thus the yarn as it is drawn off of either cone will be directed immediately to a common point where a yarn guide is provided as fully described below.

By mounting the cones of yarn at angles relatively to the vertical, lint and fly accumulation at the top of the cones, as normally occurs in conventional knitting machines where the cones are mounted vertically, is minimized. The lint and fly generated by the unwinding action of the yarn tends to fall into the area below; and, due to the positioning of the supply cones outwardly of the knitting machine such lint and fly fall directly to the base of the machine where it may be gathered and removed.

As indicated in FIG. I, the brackets 8 for mounting the pairs of supply cones are spaced equally about the periphery of the knitting machine; and, in accordance with the teaching of the present invention, the points of intersection of the longitudinal axes of each pair of cones on the upper brackets meet at a series of points which define a circle spaced radially inwardly of the cones. Located at a position coincident with this circle is a ballooner guide ring member 10. Similarly, the points of intersection of the axes of the cones of each pair mounted on the lower bracket intersect at a series of points defining another circle at which a second ballooner guide ring member 11 is positioned. In the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, both ballooner ring members may be chromium plated, /4 inch diameter steel rod or stainless steel rod either of which may be satin finished.

The ballooner guide rings function as guides in the feeding of yarn to the positive feed mechanism of the knitting machine. A separate positive feed unit 12 is provided for each separate length of yarn. The purpose of the feed unit is to draw the yarn from the associated supply cone and deliver it to the appropriate needles of the knitting machine at a constant rate and tension. The positive feed mechanisms used in the machine shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are of conventional construction and themselves form no part of the present invention.

In the conventional circular knitting machine, the tension and breakage of yarn is sensed by stop motion devices. Typically, an upper and lower motion device is provided for each length of yarn. The upper stop motion device is placed between the supply cone and the positive feed unit for that cone while the lower stop motion device is placed between the positive feed unit and the appropriate needle of the knitting machine to which that length of yarn is directed.

In conventional circular knitting machines, the upper stop motion device senses both breaks in the yarn as well as increased tension. Normally, however, the lower stop motion device indicates only when the yarn is broken and not when the end becomes tight. It has been found that these stop motion devices, and particularly the lower one, provide sources of lint and fly accumulation.

In the improved creel of the present invention, the conventional upper and lower stop motion devices are eliminated and a single stop motion device is provided for performing the functions of both the upper and lower stop motion devices as used on a conventional creel. The preferred stop motion device, indicated at 13 in the drawings, is a Wesco upper stop motion device as found in conventional knitting machines. This device is known as a Wesco Visulite, covered by U.S. Pat. No. 2,515,479 and manufactured by Stop-Motion Devices Corporation, Plainview, Long Island, New York.

In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, the stop motion devices are placed between the positive feed mechanism and the knitting needles of the knitting machine approximately 12 inches from the tape feed wheel of the feed mechanism. By placing the stop motion in this position, a yarn breakage occurring prior to entrance into the positive feed unit will be indicated just after the broken end of the yarn passes through the tape feed wheels.

In order to increase the length of yarn between the needles of the knitting machine and the positive feed unit for each length of yarn, yarn control means comprising a plurality of yarn guides l4, l and 16 are provided between the stop motion device 13 and the yarn guides 4 of the knitting machine. As shown in FIG. 2, these guides are mounted on the outside of a cylindrical plexiglass shield member 17. The shield is provided with lateral arms 18 so that it may be mounted on the central support rod 6' of the knitting machine. The guides 14 and 15 are split porcelain eyelets, while the guides 16 are slotted porcelain members. The guides are spaced such that the yarn will pass directly from the associated stop motion to a split eyelet 14 near the bottom of the plexiglass shield, then upwardly to and around a split eyelet 15 at the top of the shield and then downwardly through the slot in the bottom guide 16. The yarn is then fed directly into the yarn guides 4 and needles 5 of the knitting machine. The guides l4, l5 and 16 function to double the yarn back upon itself as it is fed from the stop motion devices to the knitting machine. The increased yarn length thus provided at this point permits the stop motion device to indicate a break in the yarn in time to prevent the broken end from entering the knitting machine. The shield is oriented with the positive feed mechanisms located at about its upper extent and radially outwardly thereof. The stop motion devices, on the other hand, are located above the shield and radially outwardly thereof.

The plexiglass cylinder shield 17, in addition to providing a support for the guides 14-16, also serves to prevent freely floating lint and fly from depositing around the area of the knitting needles of the machine. For this purpose, the diameter of the cylinder is constructed to be about 6 inches larger than the diameter of the cylinder of the knitting machine and is located about 6 inches directly above the knitting machine. During operation of the knitting machine, the plexiglass shield retains a slight static charge which further assists in preventing lint and fly from depositing in critical areas of the machine by attracting it to the surface of the shield. The charge of the shield varies with the relative humidity of the room. At the low relative humidity, the shield attracts lint and fly from distances up to 15 to 20 inches from its surface.

An internal needle blower I9 is located in the knitting machine just below the shield for further assisting in the removal of lint and fly from the area around the knitting needles. This blower blows air from the center outwardly through the opening between the bottom of the shield of the needles of the knitting machine. The needle blower is of conventional construction and, itself, forms no part of the present invention.

For further assistance in the removal of lint and fly, a conventional Uniwave Whirl-Clean four-arm blower 20 shown in FIG. I is provided. This blower is provided with four rotating arms, the ends of which together are directed at the yarn cones, stop motion devices, positive feed mechanisms, ballooner guide.rings and the top guides of the plexiglass shield. Thus, upon rotation of these arms, these parts of the machine will be subjected to a stream of air assisting in the removal of lint and fly.

With the construction of the improved creel of the present invention as described above, the total amount of lint and fly accumulated in the critical areas of the knitting machine is reduced by approximately percent over that accumulated in knitting machines using conventionally constructed creels. With the elimination of this lint and fly accumulation, malfunctioning of the machine causing yarn breakage and/or unacceptable knitting is minimized.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, a modified support arrangement for the supply cones is provided. Instead of having separate bracket arms for each two pairs of supply cones as with the embodiment shown in FIGS. I and 2, every other bracket arm 21 includes a single bracket 22 at its outer end for mounting a single pair of supply cones while the intermediate bracket arms 23 include three brackets 24, 25 and 26 each of which mounts a pair of supply cones. As shown in FIG. 3, the brackets 24 and 25 are mounted on horizontally extending arm members 27 and 28, respectively, at a point spaced radially outwardly and circumferentially of the bracket 26. As also shown from FIG. 3, each of the brackets 22 are spaced radially outwardly of the center of the machine by the same distance as the brackets 26.

With the construction of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, all of the brackets for supporting the pairs of spools depend from the bracket arms 21 and 23. This lowers the overall height of the cones of yarn as compared with the construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 where half of the pairs of cones are mounted above the bracket arms. Thus, with the construction shown in FIGs. 3, 4 and 5, a person standing on the floor may easily don and dofi the yarn cones.

As will be readily evident from FIG. 3, the pattern of the bracket arms 21 and 23 will be symmetrical about the machine. Thus, every other pair of supply cones about the periphery of the machine will be disposed at a point radially inwardly of every intermediate pair of supply cones to facilitate their positioning about the machine. In the embodiment of FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the radius of the creel will be increased by about 12 inches.

As with the construction shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, each pair of circumferentially spaced supply cones in the modified embodiment of FlGS. 3, 4 and 5, defines one of the feeds for the knitting machine. Also, the longitudinal axes of every other pair of cones intersect at points defining a circle. At these points of intersection, ballooner guide members 29, 30 corresponding to the ballooner guide ring members and 11, are provided.

I claim:

1. An improved creel for a circular knitting machine comprising:

a. support means extending upwardly from said knitting machine;

b. a plurality of support brackets connected to said support means and extending laterally outwardly of said knitting machine;

c. means for mounting at least one supply cone of yarn on each support bracket;

d. ballooner guide means located at a point more closely overlying the knitting machine than the cones themselves for directing the yarn from each cone toward the knitting machine;

e. positive feed mechanism for each length of yarn for drawing said yarn from its supply cone and delivering it to the needles of the knitting machine, said feed mechanisms being positioned below said ballooner guide means for receiving yarn therefrom;

f. a single stop motion device for each length of yarn for dc tecting over tension and breakage of yarn and controlling the knitting machine in response thereto, said stop motion devices being located between said positive feed mechanism and the knitting machine; and

g. yarn control means mounted on the machine independently of the means for mounting the supply cones for permitting the stop motion device to indicate a break in the yarn in time to prevent the broken end from entering the knitting machine.

2. An improved creel according to claim 1 wherein said yarn control means comprises:

a. guide means for directing the yarn along a path, as it passes from said stop motion device to said knitting machine, which has a sufficient length to permit the stop motion device to indicate a break in the yarn before the broken end reaches the knitting machine.

3. An improved creel according to claim 2 further includa. means on each bracket for mounting a pair of supply cones of yarn with the longitudinal axes of the cones generally intersecting at said ballooner guide means, each of said cones being adapted to be unwound by pulling yarn therefrom off the top of the cone and in a direction along its longitudinal axis with the trailing end of yarn on one cone being connected to the leading end of the yarn on the other cone of the pair, said means for mounting the supply cones is positioned at a location laterally outwardly of said knitting machine with the longitudinal axis of each cone extending at an angle to the vertical.

4. An improved creel according to claim wherein:

a. the pairs of supply cones are positioned at circumferentially spaced intervals about the periphery of the knitting machine and laterally outwardly thereof;

b. the longitudinal axes of each pair of cones intersect at points defining a circle spaced radially inwardly of said cones; and

c. said ballooner guide means comprises a ring member located at a position coincident with said circle.

5 prising:

5. An improved creel according to claim 4 further including:

a. means on each bracket for mounting a second pair of cones at a vertically spaced level from said first mentioned pair; and

a. support means extending upwardly from said knitting machine;

b. a plurality of support brackets connected to said support means and extending laterally outwardly of said knitting machine;

c. means on each bracket for mounting a pair of supply cones of yarn with the longitudinal axes of the cones generally intersecting at a predetermined location, each of said cones being adapted to be unwound by pulling yarn therefrom off the top of the cone and in a direction along its longitudinal axis with the trailing end of yarn on one cone being connected to the leading end of the yarn on the other cone of the pair, said means for mounting the supply cones being positioned at a location laterally outwardly of said knitting machine with the longitudinal axis of each cone extending at an angle to the vertical;

d. ballooner guide means located at a point more closely overlying the knitting machine than the cones themselves and at said predetermined location for directing the yarn from each cone toward the knitting machine;

e. positive feed mechanism for each length of yarn for drawing said yarn from its supply cones and delivering it to the needles of the knitting machine, said feed mechanisms being positioned below said ballooner guide means for receiving yarn therefrom;

a single stop motion device for each length of yarn for detecting over tension and breakage of yarn and controlling the knitting machine in response thereto, said stop motion devices being located between said positive feed mechanisms and the knitting machine;

g. guide means for doubling the path of yarn back upon itself as it passes from said stop motion devices to said knitting machine; and

h. a cylindrical shield member for mounting said guide means on the outer surface thereof, said shield member being spaced immediately above said knitting machine and having a diameter slightly larger than the cylinder of the knitting machine.

7. An improved creel according to claim 6 wherein:

a. said shield is constructed of electrostatically chargeable material.

8. An improved creel according to claim 7 wherein:

a. said positive feedmechanisms are located at about the upper extent of said shield and radially outwardly thereof; and

b. said stop motion devices are located above said shield and radially outwardly thereof.

9. An improved creel for a circular knitting machine comprising:

a. support means extending upwardly from said knitting machine;

b. a plurality of support brackets connected to said support means and extending laterally outwardly of said knitting machine;

0. means for mounting at least one supply cone of yarn on each support bracket;

d. ballooner guide means located at a point more closely overlying the knitting machine than the cones themselves for directing the yarn from each cone toward the knitting machine;

e. positive feed mechanism for each length of yarn for draw ing said yarn from its supply cone and delivering it to the needles of the knitting machine, said feed mechanisms being positioned below said ballooner guide means for receiving yarn therefrom;

f. a single stop motion device for each length of yarn for detecting over tension and breakage of yarn and controlling the knitting machine in response thereto, said stop motion devices being located between said positive feed mechanisms and the knitting machine;

g. guide means for doubling the path of yarn back upon itself as it passes from said stop motion devices to said knitting machine; and

h. a cylindrical shield member for mounting said guide means on the outer surface thereof, said shield member being spaced immediately above said knitting machine and having a diameter slightly larger than the cylinder of the knitting machine. 

1. An improved creel for a circular knitting machine comprising: a. support means extending upwardly from said knitting machine; b. a plurality of support brackets connected to said support means and extending laterally outwardly of said knitting machine; c. means for mounting at least one supply cone of yarn on each support bracket; d. ballooner guide means located at a point more closely overlying the knitting machine than the cones themselves for directing the yarn from each cone toward the knitting machine; e. positive feed mechanism for each length of yarn for drawing said yarn from its supply cone and delivering it to the needles of the knitting machine, said feed mechanisms being positioned below said ballooner guide means for receiving yarn therefrom; f. a single stop motion device for each length of yarn for detecting over tension and breakage of yarn and controlling the knitting machine in response thereto, said stop motion devices being located between said positive feed mechanism and the knitting machine; and g. yarn control means mounted on the machine independently of the means foR mounting the supply cones for permitting the stop motion device to indicate a break in the yarn in time to prevent the broken end from entering the knitting machine.
 2. An improved creel according to claim 1 wherein said yarn control means comprises: a. guide means for directing the yarn along a path, as it passes from said stop motion device to said knitting machine, which has a sufficient length to permit the stop motion device to indicate a break in the yarn before the broken end reaches the knitting machine.
 3. An improved creel according to claim 2 further including: a. means on each bracket for mounting a pair of supply cones of yarn with the longitudinal axes of the cones generally intersecting at said ballooner guide means, each of said cones being adapted to be unwound by pulling yarn therefrom off the top of the cone and in a direction along its longitudinal axis with the trailing end of yarn on one cone being connected to the leading end of the yarn on the other cone of the pair, said means for mounting the supply cones is positioned at a location laterally outwardly of said knitting machine with the longitudinal axis of each cone extending at an angle to the vertical.
 4. An improved creel according to claim wherein: a. the pairs of supply cones are positioned at circumferentially spaced intervals about the periphery of the knitting machine and laterally outwardly thereof; b. the longitudinal axes of each pair of cones intersect at points defining a circle spaced radially inwardly of said cones; and c. said ballooner guide means comprises a ring member located at a position coincident with said circle.
 5. An improved creel according to claim 4 further including: a. means on each bracket for mounting a second pair of cones at a vertically spaced level from said first mentioned pair; and b. a second ballooner guide ring located at the circle defined by the points of intersections of the axes of the cones of the second pair.
 6. An improved creel for a circular knitting machine comprising: a. support means extending upwardly from said knitting machine; b. a plurality of support brackets connected to said support means and extending laterally outwardly of said knitting machine; c. means on each bracket for mounting a pair of supply cones of yarn with the longitudinal axes of the cones generally intersecting at a predetermined location, each of said cones being adapted to be unwound by pulling yarn therefrom off the top of the cone and in a direction along its longitudinal axis with the trailing end of yarn on one cone being connected to the leading end of the yarn on the other cone of the pair, said means for mounting the supply cones being positioned at a location laterally outwardly of said knitting machine with the longitudinal axis of each cone extending at an angle to the vertical; d. ballooner guide means located at a point more closely overlying the knitting machine than the cones themselves and at said predetermined location for directing the yarn from each cone toward the knitting machine; e. positive feed mechanism for each length of yarn for drawing said yarn from its supply cones and delivering it to the needles of the knitting machine, said feed mechanisms being positioned below said ballooner guide means for receiving yarn therefrom; f. a single stop motion device for each length of yarn for detecting over tension and breakage of yarn and controlling the knitting machine in response thereto, said stop motion devices being located between said positive feed mechanisms and the knitting machine; g. guide means for doubling the path of yarn back upon itself as it passes from said stop motion devices to said knitting machine; and h. a cylindrical shield member for mounting said guide means on the outer surface thereof, said shield member being spaced immediately above said knitting machine and having a diameter slightly larger than the cylinder of the knitting machine.
 7. An improved creel according to claim 6 wherein: a. said shield is constructed of electrostatically chargeable material.
 8. An improved creel according to claim 7 wherein: a. said positive feed mechanisms are located at about the upper extent of said shield and radially outwardly thereof; and b. said stop motion devices are located above said shield and radially outwardly thereof.
 9. An improved creel for a circular knitting machine comprising: a. support means extending upwardly from said knitting machine; b. a plurality of support brackets connected to said support means and extending laterally outwardly of said knitting machine; c. means for mounting at least one supply cone of yarn on each support bracket; d. ballooner guide means located at a point more closely overlying the knitting machine than the cones themselves for directing the yarn from each cone toward the knitting machine; e. positive feed mechanism for each length of yarn for drawing said yarn from its supply cone and delivering it to the needles of the knitting machine, said feed mechanisms being positioned below said ballooner guide means for receiving yarn therefrom; f. a single stop motion device for each length of yarn for detecting over tension and breakage of yarn and controlling the knitting machine in response thereto, said stop motion devices being located between said positive feed mechanisms and the knitting machine; g. guide means for doubling the path of yarn back upon itself as it passes from said stop motion devices to said knitting machine; and h. a cylindrical shield member for mounting said guide means on the outer surface thereof, said shield member being spaced immediately above said knitting machine and having a diameter slightly larger than the cylinder of the knitting machine. 